With the Fall 2021 semester already underway at Haub Law and starting next week for the remainder of the University, it's a good time to remind our community that Pace University supports, values, and celebrates the diversity of religious expression.
Some religious holidays are University holidays. Some are not. The Academic Calendar is set and approved by the Faculty Councils, balancing many priorities. Those include state requirements for instructional time, federal holidays, and religious holidays. While we make our best efforts to reflect the needs of our community, that is not always possible in all cases.
When holidays occur on days when classes are scheduled and/or the University is operating, we as a community must be flexible and accommodating toward faculty, staff, and students who celebrate.
Faculty facing a conflict with a religious holiday have the option of rescheduling their classes, having a substitute instructor, or moving the class modality to asynchronous online. For students facing a conflict, faculty are expected to make reasonable accommodations. A student who misses an academic obligation because of religious observance is responsible for contacting their professor and completing missed course work in a timely manner. For staff, managers should approve time off or allow an early departure.
The New York State Attorney General's guidance on religious observance in the workplace is available here.
Thank you for your help in ensuring Pace remains a welcoming and inclusive community.
